Spring-gun.



*0. F. LEFEVER.

srnme GUN. APPLICATION FILED IAY31, 1913.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

Patented May 19; 1am

c. F. LEFEVER.

SPRING GUN. APPLIIOLTIOH FILED MAY a1, 1913.

Patented May 19, 1914.

2 sums-sum 2.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

CHARLES F. LEFE VER, 0F PLYMOUTH, MICHIGAN, ASSIG-NOR TO DAISY MANUFAC-TURING COMPANY, OF PLYMOUTH, MICHIGAN, A CORPORATION OF MICHIGAN.

SPRING-GUN.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed May 31, 1913. Serial Iio.771,013.

To all whom it may concern: v

\ Be it known that I, CHARLES F. Lnrnvrm, a citizen of the United Statesof America, residing at Plymouth, in the county of Wayne and State ofMichigan, have invented certain new and, useful Improvements in jectileis first stored by a manual operation,

and the present invention comprises the peculiar construction of meansemployed for storing the power as hereinafter set forth.

In the manufacture of toy guns, it is desirable to simulate as closelyas possible both the appearance and the manipulation of a firing gun.Thus the compression of the spring which stores the power is in somecases effected by breaking down of the gun at the bridge similar to theoperation of the firing guns of this type, and it has also been proposedto efi'ect the storing of the power by a slidable handle block similarto thesocalled pump guns. There is, however, a difiiculty to beovercomev in the latter type, as'the power required to fully compressthe spring is such. as to render the sliding of the handle blockdiflicult and often beyond the strength of the juvenile operator. Thepresent invention is designed to overcome this difficulty by theinterposition of mechanism for progressively increasing the powerdirectly applied to the spring as the latter increases in tension. Thisrenders it possible to simulate the construction and operation of thepump gun and at the same time to have an easily operated mechanism. Inthe drawings: Figure 1. is an elevation of the gun; Fig. 2 is alongitudinal sect-ion through a portion of the gun showing the powerstoring mechanism; Fig. 3 is a similar view showing the parts indifferent positions of adjustment; and Fig. 4 is a cross section.

A is the barrel of the gun, B the stock, C

' the trigger and D the handle slidable longiposition, as shown in Fig.3.

and power-storing mechanism. To compress the spring, the power requiredincreases as the limit of compression is reached, and while the initialmovement is easily performed the final movement is much more diflicult.I therefore interpose between the slidable block D and the shank G alever mechanism so constructed that the power applied to the shankincreases as the spring approaches its final position of compression.This mechanism preferably comprises a toggle lever, which in its initialposition has its constituent links H and I in acute angular relation toeach other, while in the final position these links are straightenedapproximately into alinement. The link H in initial position extendstrans- Patented May 19, 1914..

versely of the barrel, substantially at right angles to the axisthereof, and is provided with a bent arm J extending parallel to theunder side of the barrel. This arm J is pivoted at its free end to alink K which exmovement' of the block D along the barrel will cause thelinks J and K to break down or fall upon the pivot K and will also swingthe link H from its initial to its final In the straightening of thetoggle links H and I by the movement just described the shank G isguided within the barrel byta portion G which slidably bears upon thetop of the barrel, and the link I is provided with a pin I which engagesa bifurcated hooked bearing L on the lower side of said shank. In rearof this bearing is the hook L which engages with the sear G of thetrigger G. Thus when the toggle links H and I are straightened by themovement as above described, the hook L will engage with the sear C soas to hold the shank G from return movement, but the block D and leversconnected therewith are free to be returned owing to the detachableengagement of the pin I with the bifurcated bearing L on the shank G. Tohold these parts in their return position prior to the firing of thegun, a latch member M is arranged to yieldably engage with the pin 1.This member M is preferably bifurcated to embrace the links H and I and--is pivotally mounted upon the pin N which forms the pivot for thetrigger. The free ends of the furcations are formed with shoulders M forengaging with the pin I', being yieldably pressed into engagement by aspring 0 bearing against the member M and the stock B. The spring 0'arranged adjacent to the sprlng. O bears first arranged for relativelylarge movement and small power but constantly change toward increasingpower and decreasing movement in direct ratio to the increasingresistance of the spring as it is compressed. Thus the power is storedquickly and easily by the operator and without the necessity of removingthe gun from a position of aim. The return movement of the block Dpermits the latch member M to engage with the pin I, which will preventsaid block from sliding down where the gun is aimed upward. During thisreturn movement the pin I is guided between the shank G and thefurcations of the member M until it engages with the shoulder M. Thepulling of the trigger releases the sear, permitting the spring toexpand and return the shank G to a position where the pin I againengages the bearing L, while the hook L forces the latch member M out ofengagement with the pin I. A cap member P is preferably em ployed forcovering the toggle links and the opening in the gun barrel throughwhich they operate. This cap member is pivoted at P and extends over thebent arm J of the link H, while the spring P operates to hold it innormal position. The tension of this spring is slight, so as not tointerfere with the movement which compresses the main spring, but itnevertheless assists in returning the levers after the storage of thepower.

What I claim as my invention is:

1. In a gum-the combination with a barrel of power storage means forpropelling the projectile, an actuating member movable by a slidingmovement longitudinally of the barrel, and a transmission between saidactuating member and power storage means for progressively increasingthe power applied to the latter as the resistance thereof increases.

2. In a gun, the combination with a ban rel of power storage means forpropelling the projectile, an actuating member slidable longitudinallyof the barrel, and a lever con-- nection between said actuating memberand said 'power storage means constructed to in crease the power exertedupon the latter as its resistance increases.

3.. In a gun, the combination with a barrel of power storage means, anactuating member slidable longitudinally of the barrel, and a togglelever connection between said actuating member and said power storagemeans-constructed to impart to the latter decreasing movement andincreasing power.

4. In a gun, the combination with a barrel of a power storage springarranged longitudinally thereof, an actuating member slidablelongitudinally of the barrel, and a lever connection between saidactuating member and said power storage spring including toggle linksinitially in acute angular relation to each other and approaching aposition of alinement during their final movement.

5. In a gun, the combination with a barrel of apower storage springarranged longitudinally thereof, a shank for compressing said spring, anactuating member slidable longitudinally of the barrel, toggle links forretracting said shank, initially in acute angular relation andapproaching during their movement a position of alinement, and abreak-down lever connection between said links and said slidableactuating member.

6. In a gun, the combination with a barrel of a power storage springarranged therein, an actuating member slidable longitudinally of thebarrel, a shank for retracting said spring, toggle links for actuatingsaid shank, initially in acute angular relation and approachingalinement in their final position, an extension arm of one of said linksinitially arranged parallel to the barrel, and a link pivotallyconnected to said extension arm and to said slidable actuating member.

7. In a gun, the combination with a barrel .tween said spring and saidshank, initially in acute angular relation, an arm forming an extensionof one of said links initially arranged parallel to said barrel, anactuating member slidable longitudinally of the barrel, and a linkpivotally attached to said actuating member and to said extension armfor moving the latter to straighten said toggles and compress saidspring.

8. In a gun, the combination with a barrel of a power storage springarranged therein, a shank for compressing said spring extending rearwardtherefrom, toggle links interposed between said spring and shank,initially in acute angular relation, one of said links extending in itsinitial position transversely of said barrel and being provided with aforwardly-extending arm parallel to said barrel, an actuating memberslidable longitudinally of said barrel, and a link pivotally connectedto said actuating member and to the forwardly-extending arm of thetoggle link for the purpose described.

9. In a gun, the combination with a barrel of a power storage springtherein, a bifurcated shank for compressing said spring extendingrearward centrally thereof, toggle links arranged intermediate saidspring and shank initially in acute angular relation, one of said linkscomprising a portion extending transversely of said barrel intermediatethe furcations of said shank and a portion extending forward parallel tosaid barrel, the other link being pivotally attached to the lower end ofsaid transversely extending portion end with a pin for engaging abearing on said shank, an actuating member slidable longitudinally ofsaid barrel, a link pivotally connected to said actuating member and tosaid forwardly-extending arm, and a latch member for engaging said inafter the power'storing operation to hold said actuating member andconnections from displacement.

10. In a gun, rel of a power storage sprin therein, arearwardly-extending shank or compressing said spring, toggle links foractuating said shank, an actuating member slidable" longiand provided atits free 'ber engaging the combination with a bartudinally of saidbarrel, 2. connecting linkage between said actuating member and saidtoggle links, a sear for retaining said shank in the compressed positionof said spring, and means for holding said actuating member fromdisplacement in its initial position after the power-storage operation.

11. In a gun, the combination with a barrel, of a power storage springtherein, a shank for compressin said spring extending rearwardlytherefrom, toggle links intermediate said sprin and shank initially inacute angular relation, one of said links being provided with aforwardly-extending arm parallel to said barrel, an actuating memberslidable longitudinally of said barrel, a link pivotally connecting saidactuating member with said forwardly-extending arm, a pin at the freeend of said toggle links for engaging said shank, and a memsaid pin forguiding the same during its return movement after the powerstorageoperation, and for holding the same and said actuating member fromdisplacement from their initial positions.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature in presence of two Witnesses.

CHARLES F. LEFEVER.

\Vitnesses:

J AMES P. BARRY, DELBERT COLLINS.

